Pretend, 1) to assert: “why shall we fight, if you p. no title?” H6C IV, 7, 57. “whom you p. to honour and adore,” Tit. I, 42.
2) to alledge falsely, to use as a pretext: “--ing in her discoveries of dishonour,” Meas. III, 1, 236. “the contract you p. with that base wretch,” Cymb. II, 3, 118. “importuned me to temper poisons for her, still --ing the satisfaction of her knowledge,” V, 5, 250.
3) to intend, to mean: “reward not hospitality with such black payment as thou hast --ed,” Lucr. 576. “their --ed flight,” Gent. II, 6, 37. “such as shall p. malicious practices against his state,” H6A IV, 1, 16. doth this churlish superscription p. some alteration in good will? 54 (== mean). “what good could they p.?” Mcb. II, 4, 24.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
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